按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
person of this mighty white giant。 Following the example of their leader
106
… Page 107…
THE MONSTER MEN
the five creatures at his back leaped upon the nearest warriors； and though
they wielded their parangs awkwardly the superhuman strength back of
their cuts and thrusts sent the already blood stained blades through many a
brown body。
The Dyaks would gladly have retreated after the first surprise of their
initial attack； but Bulan urged his men on after them； and so they were
forced to fight to preserve their lives at all。 At last five of them managed
to escape into the jungle； but fifteen remained quietly upon the earth
where they had fallenthe victims of their own over confidence。 Beside
them lay two of Bulan's five； so that now the little party was reduced to
fourand the problem that had faced Professor Maxon was so much closer
to its own solution。
From the bodies of the dead Dyaks Bulan and his three companions；
Number Three； Number Ten； and Number Twelve； took enough loin cloths；
caps； war…coats； shields and weapons to fit them out completely； after
discarding the ragged remnants of their cotton pajamas； and now； even
more terrible in appearance than before； the rapidly vanishing company of
soulless monsters continued their aimless wandering down the river's
brim。
The five Dyaks who had escaped carried the news of the terrible
creatures that had fallen upon them in the jungle； and of the awful prowess
of the giant white man who led them。 They told of how； armed only with a
huge whip； he had been a match and more than a match for the best
warriors of the tribe； and the news that they started spread rapidly down
the river from one long…house to another until it reached the broad stream
into which the smaller river flowed； and then it travelled up and down to
the headwaters above and the ocean far below in the remarkable manner
that news travels in the wild places of the world。
So it was that as Bulan advanced he found the long…houses in his path
deserted； and came to the larger river and turned up toward its head
without meeting with resistance or even catching a glimpse of the brown…
skinned people who watched him from their hiding places in the brush。
That night they slept in the long…house near the bank of the greater
stream； while its rightful occupants made the best of it in the jungle behind。
107
… Page 108…
THE MONSTER MEN
The next morning found the four again on the march ere the sun had
scarcely lighted the dark places of the forest； for Bulan was now sure that
he was on the right trail and that the new river that he had come to was
indeed the same that he had traversed in the Prahu with Barunda。
It must have been close to noon when the young giant's ears caught the
sound of the movement of some animal in the jungle a short distance to his
right and away from the river。 His experience with men had taught him
to be wary； for it was evident that every man's hand was against him； so he
determined to learn at once whether the noise he heard came from some
human enemy lurking along his trail ready to spring upon him with naked
parang at a moment that he was least prepared； or merely from some
jungle brute。
Cautiously he threaded his way through the matted vegetation in the
direction of the sound。 Although a parang from the body of a vanquished
Dyak hung at his side he grasped his bull whip ready in his right hand；
preferring it to the less accustomed weapon of the head hunter。 For a
dozen yards he advanced without sighting the object of his search； but
presently his efforts were rewarded by a glimpse of a reddish； hairy body；
and a pair of close set； wicked eyes peering at him from behind a giant
tree。
At the same instant a slight movement at one side attracted his
attention to where another similar figure crouched in the underbrush； and
then a third； fourth and fifth became evident about him。 Bulan looked in
wonderment upon the strange； man…like creatures who eyed him
threateningly from every hand。 They stood fully as high as the brown
Dyak warriors； but their bodies were naked except for the growth of
reddish hair which covered them； shading to black upon the face and
hands。
The lips of the nearest were raised in an angry snarl that exposed
wicked looking fighting fangs； but the beasts did not seem inclined to
initiate hostilities； and as they were unarmed and evidently but engaged
upon their own affairs Bulan decided to withdraw without arousing them
further。 As he turned to retrace his steps he found his three companions
gazing in wide…eyed astonishment upon the strange new creatures which
108
… Page 109…
THE MONSTER MEN
confronted them。
Number Ten was grinning broadly； while Number Three advanced
cautiously toward one of the creatures； making a low guttural noise； that
could only be interpreted as peaceful and conciliatorymore like a feline
purr it was than anything else。
〃What are you doing？〃 cried Bulan。 〃Leave them alone。 They have
not offered to harm us。〃
〃They are like us；〃 replied Number Three。 〃They must be our own
people。 I am going with them。〃
〃And I；〃 said Number Ten。
〃And I；〃 echoed Number Twelve。 〃At last we have found our own；
let us all go with them and live with them； far away from the men who
would beat us with great whips； and cut us with their sharp swords。〃
〃They are not human beings；〃 exclaimed Bulan。 〃We cannot live
with them。〃
〃Neither are we human beings；〃 retorted Number Twelve。 〃Has not
von Horn told us so many times？〃
〃If I am not now a human being；〃 replied Bulan； 〃I intend to be one；
and so I shall act as a human being should act。 I shall not go to live with
savage beasts； nor shall you。 Come with me as I tell you； or you shall
again taste the bull whip。〃
〃We shall do as we please；〃 growled Number Ten； baring his fangs。
〃You are not our master。 We have followed you as long as we intend to。
We are tired of forever walking； walking； walking through the bushes that
tear our flesh and hurt us。 Go and be a human being if you think you can；
but do not longer interfere with us or we shall kill you；〃 and he looked
first at Number Three and then at Number Twelve for approval of his
ultimatum。
Number Three nodded his grotesque and hideous head he was so
covered with long black hair that he more nearly resembled an ourang
outang than a human being。 Number Twelve looked doubtful。
〃I think Number Ten is right；〃 he said at last。 〃We are not human。 We
have no souls。 We are things。 And while you； Bulan； are beautiful； yet
you are as much a soulless thing as wethat much von Horn taught us well。
109
… Page 110…
THE MONSTER MEN
So I believe that it would be better were we to keep forever from the sight
of men。 I do not much like the thought of living with these strange； hairy
monsters； but we might find a place here in the jungle where we could live
alone and in peace。〃
〃I do not want to live alone；〃 cried Number Three。 〃I want a mate； and
I see a beautiful one yonder now。 I am going after her；〃 and with that he
again started toward a female ourang outang； but the lady bared her fangs
and retreated before his advance。
〃Even the beasts will have none of us；〃 cried Number Ten angrily。 〃Let
us take them by force then；〃 and he started after Number Three。
〃Come back！〃 shouted Bulan； leaping after the two deserters。
As he raised his voice there came an answering cry from a little
distance aheada cry for help；